Ben Settle

Finally set up ye olde home office since moving couple weeks ago.

And, one of the things I put up is a bulletin board on the wall tacked with all the post cards, thank-you notes and testimonials I’ve received via snail mail (way more impact sending this stuff via snail mail than email) from customers, clients, colleagues and subscribers.

My favorite is the one that says:

“To the Heisenberg of email…”

(It came with a t-shirt of Breaking Bad’s “Heisenberg”).

Anyway, why put these up on my wall?

To stroke my own ego?

Hardly.

You see, while I show you *some* of the hate mail, bat shit crazy comments and borderline personality disorder “drive-by” insults… I don’t share the really disturbing stuff.

And, yes, it can get disturbing.

Some of these dorks need serious help.

And so, what these positive comments and testimonials do is, they counteract all the dingbat comments and negativity (which can turn you cynical and cold-hearted if you let it).

It also reminds me there are good people out there, too.

People who work hard.

Have gratitude.

And, always move forward.

(Especially after setbacks.)

These are the people I strive to attract into my life.

It’s also why I cut people out of my life who whine about their jobs… blame other people for their problems… and refuse to take responsibility for their decisions.

Not saying they’re “bad” people.

But, they suck the life right out of a room.

Don’t realize how repulsive they are.

And, attract other losers towards them who feed on that negativity like vampires feeding on a plump, veiny neck.

Anyway, moral of the story?

Not to get all Earl Nightingale-y on you, but:

Your mind is fertile ground.

It’ll grow whatever you plant — good or bad. And, it doesn’t discriminate or care what you put in it.

So, pull the “weeds” regularly, Samwise.

And, always be planting good stuff.

Speaking of which…

The next “Email Players” issue goes to print next week.

Here’s what’s inside:

• 9 ways to embed ironclad credibility into your emails

• How to sue content thieves for fun and profit

• The #1 mistake lots of otherwise smart email marketers make that instantly dries up a customer’s desire to buy from you

• How to (ethically) control the way people think about you

• A secret way to turn your product’s biggest flaws into sales

• Why some of the best email marketing “teachers” are racist, communist, radical feminist and every other “ist” you can think of… (and yes, I name a few of them… but chances are you’ve never heard of most of them, so don’t expect any IM forum “gossip fodder”)

• And a ho’ bunch mo’…

But, the deadline approaches fast.

Subscribe here in time:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

I’m not a fan of a lot of Eastern philosophy.

But, I dig this quote:

“When a foolish man hears the Tao, he laughs out loud”

Why?

Cuz it has sooooo many applications.

Especially with the contrarian info I use (and teach).

For example, goo-roo fanboys laugh whenever I say:

• You can’t “scientifically” test email  (it’s impossible)

• Pitch something every day

• Ignore online sales letters when studying copywriting (especially copy for big launches)

• Don’t worry about typos

• Strive for MORE (not less) opt outs

• And, especially, stop giving out all your best ideas, content and tips free as “PROOF!”

Etc, etc, etc…

All the goo-roo fanboys laugh at the above.

Some even go on forums and rail against it.

After all, if something contradicts all the bullshit they’ve been wasting their money on, it’s only natural for cognitive dissonance to kick in and force their (already pooped out) rationalization hamsters to spin even faster…

Hey, do what you want.

What I care about is what works.

What saves time.

And, what brings in the most sales.

If someone wants to bore their list with hard content… obsess over unsubscribes… timidly pitch their product once per month… waste time thinking they’re “scientifically” tracking email metrics… all the power to ’em.

As for me?

And my “Email Players” droogs?

We’ll be the ones laughing.

(All the way to the bank — as the foolish ones jump from one bright shiny object to another…)

BTW, I mentioned proof.

The next “Email Players” talks in depth about this.

Specifically, 9 ways to embed layer upon layer of proof in your emails to make your claims sparkle with credibility.

Simply.

Easily.

And, using basically just words.

Go ye here to subscribe in time:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

It’s almost game time…

Last couple days I’ve been yapping about the next Oceans 4 mastermind hot seat training I’m doing with Andre Chaperon (master auto-responder writer, strategist and teacher)… Jack Born (the “Walter White” of creating marketing tools & Perry Marshall’s affiliate manager)… and Ryan Levesque (marketing funnel wizard who uses advanced neuroscientific principles to ramp up response rates for his multi-million dollar earning clients).

Our last one in San Diego was off-the-charts successful.

In fact, we just talked to a couple of the clients yesterday.

Their results so far?

(After just a few of the tricks they learned, they haven’t even had time to fully implement half of what they learned…)

One client has already *doubled* their conversions.

(And they’re already the #1 company on ClickBank.)

And another has seen an 86% boost in conversions using a stupid simple test anyone can apply to their landing pages without any technical know how.

Sheesh.

Clearly the 4 of us are underpaid…

Anyhoo, the “early bird” offer for our next event in February (in Vegas) ends in 59 minutes. If there are spots left (and we already have nearly half of them filled) you can still sign up later.

But, if you do it before 4:59 PDT you also get:

• Free Round-Trip Airfare & Hotel (up to $1,000)
• Free Marketing Sherpa Email Summit ticket ($1,095 value)
• Free poker chips for a little “after hours” fun... ($100 worth)

But the deadline looms.

And, there’s no time to lose.

Here’s what to do if you want in:

Go to:

www.Oceans4Mastermind.com

Opt in.

(It’s double opt in).

When you double opt in you will be shunted to a page laying out the entire offer, what you can expect and how to secure your spot.

And that’s it.

But the clock’s ticking.

Early bird deadline ends in a few.

So chop! chop!

Ben Settle

I once dated a girl whose friends I’d sometimes hang with.

They were all decent people.

And, it was fun at times.

But, mostly, it was painfully dull.

Why?

Because ALL they talked about was their jobs… gossip about their co-workers… (and about each other, when one of them wasn’t around)… and drone on about how dumb their bosses were, yada yada yada.

I tell ya it was like nails on a chalkboard.

I don’t know about you…

But I’d rather be water boarded than listen to people constantly complain about their boring jobs, their evil bosses and their lazy, back stabbing co-workers.

Especially when it’s their choice to be there.

(Viva Corporate America 2.0!)

So yes, it was dull.

But you know what?

It was also extremely PROFITABLE, too.

And I’ve made many more sales as a result.

How?

Because I’d take mental notes.

Catalog their biggest complaints.

(Including the language they used, very important.)

And, often email these notes to myself on my phone while they were in mid-rant. In fact, one time we took her friend to the airport, and it was 45 minutes of nothing but continuous workplace gossip… I couldn’t type fast enough on my phone to keep up!

(“Ben at least TRY to join the conversation…” heh).

Why would I do this?

Because that’s mainstream America.

It’s a big chunk of my market:

People frustrated with corporate world.

Who secretly dream of working their own deals.

And, want out of the rat race.

These are people I’m passionate about helping. And while, yes, it was boring to listen to, I’ve been putting that valuable marketplace intel to use in my emails ever since and seeing big results.

Hey, you HAVE to hang with your market.

Observe them in their natural habitat.

And, get cerebral and play chess with them on a deeper level than your lazy competition does.

If you don’t, you lose touch.

Sales suffer.

And, eventually, you go bust.

It’s ALL about your market.

Know thy market better than anyone else and you can’t lose.

More:

This “market first” mentality was one (of many) big take aways for our recent “Oceans 4” mastermind training clients. (So far, at least one attendee has starting doing this in his emails and ads and seeing *enormous* sales gains.)

And guess what?

We’re doing another hot seat mastermind in February.

This time in Vegas, babycakes.

And the value will be far greater, too.

Especially if you sign up before today’s “early bird” deadline.

This includes a free ticket to Marketing Sherpa’s Email Summit the next day ($1095.00 ticket for free), plus your travel & hotel expenses covered up to $1000, and even $100 of free poker chips.

But time is short.

You got ’til 4:59 PST.

Details at:

www.Oceans4mastermind.com

Ben Settle

Quiz time…

What do the following have in common:

• Agora Publishing ($200+ million newsletter empire)

• Bad Ass Ventures (The #1 Company on Clickbank)

• Founder of the biggest job portal in Australia’s multi billion dollar mining industry

• A New York Times Bestselling financial author

• One of the world’s top marketers for PGA Tour Players

Give up?

They were ALL represented at the recent “Oceans 4” mastermind intensive training in San Diego I taught at with Andre Chaperon (master auto-responder writer, strategist and teacher)… Jack Born (the “Walter White” of creating marketing tools & Perry Marshall’s affiliate manager)… and Ryan Levesque (marketing funnel wizard who uses advanced neuroscientific principles to ramp up response rates for his multi-million dollar earning clients).

It was a brutally fun time let me tell ya.

Here’s why:

We put each one of the attendees on the “hot seat” and viciously slashed away at their marketing problems, plans, strategies and copy with a sadistic glee that’d make Attila the Hun cringe at the horror of it all.

Emails & copy were sliced, diced and dissected.

Sales funnels were set on fire and destroyed.

And, entire marketing plans were brutally murdered.

(And resurrected stronger than ever.)

It was exhausting.

But, also sadistic fun for the 4 of us.

In fact, I suspect some of the attendees are still having nightmares from the experience. (For example, a couple times Andre and I almost held back on the emails we skewered out of sheer politeness — but that wouldn’t have done them any good, so we stayed in cold blooded “asshole mode” — next time we’re going to try to make someone cry…)

The result?

REAL breakthroughs were made.

Websites and copy were radically changed.

Sales funnels were bullet-proofed.

And, lots of new sales are rolling in…

Anyway, what’s this got to do with you?

Probably nothing.

Unless, you’d like the same treatment.

And, a free ticket to Marketing Sherpa’s Vegas Email Summit.

And, free round trip airfare & hotel.

And, some other fun “goodies” — like $100 in free poker chips, a private dinner, after hours party with us and some other cool stuff. (Since it’s Vegas one of the guys suggested tossing in a free lap dance, too, but that idea was instantly shot down… sorry, Tiger…)

But, there’s a looming deadline.

(Less than 48 hours.)

And, spots are limited.

Go here to see if you qualify:

www.Oceans4Mastermind.com

Ben Settle

Well, I’ve done the math.

Today will be the 21st (yes, twenty first!) time I’ve moved in my life time. I think I probably even got most military people beat on this one. Sometimes I joke how I’m in the wrong business — and should open a moving company, instead.

I have it down to a science by now.

But, that’ll never happen.

Because, frankly, I LOATHE moving.

There are few things I would rather NOT do than move.

I hate moving.

Moving sucks!

So what’s any of this got to do with you?

Probably nothing.

Except, even though I’m about to embark on a 3 hour drive and long day of furniture, major appliance and accessory shopping and moving, I still found a few minutes to bat out my daily email today.

To plug my product (see below).

And, to check in with my subscribers.

It’s a good discipline to have.

And will pay you mucho smackola.

Alrighty then.

I’m off.

See you on the other side…

Ben Settle

P.S. Almost forgot to plug my product!

What kind marketer would I be if I didn’t do that — even if just a “soft” plug (like this) at the end?

No marketer, I say.

No marketer at all.

So, here goes:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Sometimes it happens…

You’re chugging along, kicking bootay each day sending emails then, suddenly… sales drop off — maybe even to goose eggs.

No obvious reason why.

No explanation.

No clue what happened.

If that happens to you… relax.

Chill.

There are LOTS of reasons this might happen.

For example…

• Unqualified leads (very common, realize if you aren’t growing your list with qualified leads, then after you convert the 5% on your list that are hot to buy, the rest will take more time or maybe never buy at all…)

• Seasonal

• Economy

• Weather

• Breaking news reports

• Email delivery problems (ISP’s blocking your autoresponder, etc)

And the list goes on.

There are all kinds of reasons sales can drop.

Just keep plugging away — these kinds of problems tend to work themselves out for people who are persistent and just keep on keepin’ on, and don’t give up or let fear paralyze them.

So get those emails out.

Keep selling.

And ride out the storm, baby.

For ongoing guidance, examples and tactics, go to:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

So Kevin Trudeau got cast into prison.

Of course, everyone’s ready to crucify him.

Me?

Not so much.

And while I’m not a big fan of Trudeau or his recent marketing (although his mega memory got me straight A’s my last semester of college), I trust Trudeau far more than I do any government bureaucrat. In fact, any time the government goes after a marketer I assume that marketer is innocent until proven guilty. The reason why is, there’s so much blatant corruption and favoritism (especially in health markets) even FTC lawyers admit it.

An example?

Okay…

I had a client (by far the biggest and most successful marketer in the self defense industry at the time) whose lawyer flat out told him this when we were selling his health supplements:

“Imagine a big pharma executive with the FTC in his hip pocket reading this ad deciding if you’re competition or not…”

I had to water everything down.

Not a single claim made it through.

(Even when backed by multiple sources, studies, testimonials, etc).

If that doesn’t prove the point, then read Chase Revel (founder of Entrepreneur Magazine)’s story.

It’s an eye opener.

My point?

The government is not there to help you.

It’s not “for the people”.

Nor is it your friend.

Unlike a corporation you have no recourse if they go after you.

They have unlimited resources.

(Graciously paid for by you, the taxpayer).

And, they know you will eventually run out of money.

Why any business man trusts the alphabet agencies is beyond me. It’s stoopid on a stick to feed a hissing rattlesnake and think it’ll let you pet it without biting you.

(Lenin called ’em “useful idiots”).

Bottom line:

Believe whatever propaganda you want.

But I trust the government about as far as I could throw a piano.

And, that ain’t far…

Still want to be in business?

Don’t care if you’re punished for being successful?

Then check out “Email Players”.

It’ll get you successful.

And, probably on the alphabet agency radars.

(They only go after successful marketers).

Here’s where to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Behold…

Following is chapter 1 of my new book:

“The Book Of Benverbs”

In the land of dumb asses the smart ass is king

Wisdom doesn’t come cheap

Everyone wants honesty until you tell them the truth

There are no dumb answers, only dumb questions

The only people who don’t have a right to complain are the people who voted for the winning candidate

My opinion may change, but the fact I’m always right never changes

God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth so you can listen to me talk more with minimal interruptions

It’s perfectly okay if you disagree with me, it’s not against the law for you to be wrong

I’m incapable of ever being wrong, ergo I’m always right

Write drunk, edit sober

This is a book in progress.

More to be added soon.

In the meantime… stretch forth your hand and apply this (anti?)wisdom, and you shall have peace and prosperity all the rest of your days.

I guarantee it.

Or your money back…

Ben Settle

P.S. You still have a little bit of time (the afternoon, I reckon) get the October “Email Players” issue — which includes info about email retargeting and the One Email Format to rule them all I’ve used for years (and is the “most ripped off” kind of email I write).

Here’s the link:

www.EmailPlayers.com